The housing stock in the Dunbar area of Vancouver has undergone significant change in the past five years. Originally a working class neighbourhood with many quite modest homes surrounded by lovely gardens, it is now a neighbourhood that 99% of the people working in Vancouver cannot afford because the replacement homes are built to the maximum footprint and cost millions. Greenspace has been reduced. Included on this website are photos of many (not all) of the disappeared houses.View Teardowns in the Dunbar area of Vancouver, BC in a larger map

Demolitions West of the Dunbar Community Centre

Saturday, September 3, 2011

The City has paved some lanes this summer; here is one that is one day old. It is a deceiving bucolic scene.The lane replaced a plethora of pot holes and is now great for biking and kids' street hockey. It is also good for demolition equipment. The first demolition with the new lane took place on September 1. Here is a photo of the 1940 house in January 2011:This last photo shows a vignette of 3 demolitions. To the left is the new house, from the demolition described in my first blog, of January 3. Between the two houses is new construction replacing a house torn down on July 18.

It is possible that the lane has or will see 10 demolitions within a relatively short period of time.

1. Torn down prior to September 2010, now a recently occupied new house.2. Torn down October 2010, new house nearly finished, my first blog, January 3.3. Torn down July 18, 2011, my blog of July 20.4. Partially torn down July 2011; the family is doing an extreme renovation (this is good!)5. Torn down September 1, 2011, this blog.6. Due to be torn down soon, quite derelict.7. Sold May 2011, and neighbourhood talk is that it is to be torn down because of the survey markers and red marks on the sidewalk, but people just moved in.8. Sold August 2011 as "fabulous opportunity to build or hold".9. Sold in 2010 and rented out, house could use some work.10. Sold January 2011 and rented out; a very nice renovated house.

Renting is a concern because the owner/developer obviously lives elsewhere and may be "holding" to teardown later. A couple of these properties appeared to be sold twice.

About Me

My Other Blog

Growing Edibles is about front-yard vegetable gardens I've observed in the Dunbar area of Vancouver, B.C. Canada, and beyond. I am no longer adding content to this blog, but it still shows the interesting creativity of gardeners that grow their own food.